*** Big off-the-court news from the WCC: The conference has signed a long-term deal with Time Warner Cable Sports to televise a West Coast Conference game of the week on TWC’s anticipated new SportsNet — aka: The Lakers’ Channel. (There will also be a 30-minute pregame show.) Given the expected popularity of the Lakers’ Channel in the crucial recruiting hub of Southern California, it’s a major development for the WCC. The league, which already has a deal in place with ESPN International to show games throughout the Pacific Rim, is the most proactive, creative non-BCS conference in the country when it comes to broadcast deals …

, which It’s channel to televise In news that is sure to shake the foundation of college basketball in the western third of the nation, Gonzaga has been picked to win the WCC men’s basketball championship, according to a preseason poll of the league’s coaches.

The Zags received seven of eight possible first-place votes and 63 of a possible 64 points.

Shocking, I know.

Maybe, just maybe, that scrappy band of misfits from Spokane will find a way to make their dreams a reality.

BYU and Saint Mary’s received one first-place vote apiece.

Gonzaga also led all schools with four players on the preseason all-league team: guards Gary Bell, Jr. and Kevin Pangos, forward Elias Harris and center Sam Dower.

Here’s the poll, which was released Monday in conjunction with WCC basketball media day in Los Angeles (all-league team below) …